You may have seen a report from the Children’s Commissioner entitled Growing up Digital in which the headline quote was “Youngsters are being left to fend for themselves on the internet against dangers such as bullying and grooming”. We, as is recommended in the report, are working tirelessly to enable our pupils to feel that they are in charge of their digital lives, and have the knowledge and skill to make the right decisions. We provide external speakers for both pupils and parents, it is a regular part of our PSHEE programme, and I do a number of refreshers in assembly.

We are aware that parents can sometimes feel disempowered by what they perceive as a lack of knowledge, or the social and peer pressure that youngsters can apply to each other to take risks in their online lives. If we can provide you with any information, or refresher information from previous talks please contact us. If you have any worries about your daughter’s use of social media and the range of communication apps please do not hesitate to contact us. I have stated a number of times in assembly that any online inappropriate communication, or behaviour will be dealt with as if it had happened in school.

I am delighted that Saturday we have a number of senior girls supporting the Maidenhead Lions Club Swimarathon at the Magnet Leisure Centre and I should like to thank them for giving up their time, along with many of our Sixth Form.

So do please have a lovely weekend.

“The person who is swimming against the stream knows the strength of it.”
Woodrow Wyatt - British politician, published author, journalist and broadcaster 1918-1997